Wan Anran blushed.
Yinzhen guiltily looked away. In their world of three, only Kangxi was happy. He teased the chubby little peach, with little red flowers sprouting behind him: "Our peach is so smart. The peach likes its father the most, right?"
As he spoke, Kangxi rubbed his smooth, peach-like cheek, feeling a surge of pride.
Yinzhen: …………
Looking at his mother, whose face was turning pale, and recalling how she had relentlessly tried to help him turn his life around these past few days, he felt incredibly uneasy and uncertain.
He has now memorized these times, and he will definitely perform them for his mother as soon as possible! Yinzhen clenched his fists, secretly making up his mind, and then made some babbling noises, reaching out his little hands for his mother to hold him.
Wan Anran's face melted away like spring snow, revealing a bright smile. She smugly snatched Xiao Maotao from Kangxi's hand and pinched his chubby cheeks: "You naughty boy."
Could it have been intentional?
Wan Anran stared into Mao Tao's eyes, which were like black pearls. Little Mao Tao looked at her with innocent and pure eyes.
Yinzhen's heart pounded like a drum.
Having won the title of Best Actor in the Succession Struggle in his previous life, he felt his back was sweating profusely. Seeing his mother staring at him for a very, very long time, he quickly pretended to be silly and played with his fingers, then hugged Wan Anran's fingers and bit them.
Wan Anran let out a soft gasp.
The wet nurse, looking anxious and fearful, stepped forward, picked up the fussy eleventh prince, and quickly retreated.
Yinzhen let out a long sigh of relief.
Wan Anran withdrew her gaze, then looked at Kangxi openly—we've eaten and seen enough, shouldn't Your Majesty be leaving now?
Emperor Kangxi was almost amused by Consort Qi's reaction.
He had no intention of leaving at all, but instead strolled around Chuxiu Palace with great interest.
Upon entering the study, Kangxi looked surprised.
In his memory, Consort Qi was still that illiterate, clumsy girl who would make half a mistake when writing a few characters.
And now...?
Kangxi looked around: stacks of books, books half-read beside the rocking chair, and large characters half-written on the desk.
Emperor Kangxi was in a daze.
Unbeknownst to him, Consort Qi made steady progress, transforming herself from a sparrow into a fledgling eagle. While feeling moved, Kangxi stepped forward and gently picked up the large characters Consort Qi had copied to examine them.
The one at the very top is a famous poem by Tao Yuanming.
I pick chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, and leisurely gaze at the Southern Mountains. The mountain air is beautiful at sunset, and the birds fly back to their nests together.
Kangxi's eyes lit up.
It wasn't for the poem, but for Qi Pin's calligraphy. Wan Anran's calligraphy was unlike that of ordinary women, which was usually delicate, elegant, and graceful. Her strokes were sharp and vigorous, and her characters were lively and had their own unique style.
I came to Chuxiu Palace suddenly.
While books could be forged, the large characters drying in the sun were much harder to alter. For example, if he had Consort Qi write the characters on the spot and something went wrong, wouldn't that be a crime of deceiving the emperor?
While praising her, Kangxi's voice also betrayed his surprise: "Consort Qi's calligraphy... she still practices it every day?"
Wan Anran nodded.
When Kangxi said he wanted to inspect, he only did so twice at first. Consort Xuan and Noble Lady Nara inspected more often, and then it became a habit. Wan Anran smiled faintly: "I'm bored in the palace, so I spend my days reading and writing."
I've gotten used to it by now.
Emperor Kangxi nodded. His gaze turned to the familiar yet unfamiliar Duan stone cat and butterfly inkstone, and his smile deepened: "It seems that my gift of this inkstone to you was well-deserved."
He recited the poem again.
Kangxi's heart stirred slightly, and he laughed loudly, "We can't go to faraway places for now, but in a couple of days I will take you all to the West Garden for a spring outing, hunting, horse racing, and kite flying. That will help you relax."
Wan Anran's eyes lit up.
What pleased her was that her attitude towards Kangxi suddenly became much warmer.
Kangxi was speechless, but he still accepted Consort Qi's attentiveness. Like dry wood meeting a raging fire, and for the first time in months, they both felt good that night, only to wait until the next day.
Kangxi looked at Consort Qi, who was fast asleep and could not be woken up no matter how he shook her, and finally shook his head: "Never mind, let her sleep."
Despite her improved cultural literacy, her fundamental nature remains exactly the same as before.
Emperor Kangxi laughed heartily.
This left Zisu feeling embarrassed and annoyed. After her mistress got up, she couldn't help but grumble, "When the Emperor gets up, there should be a mistress attending to him. That's one thing, but more importantly, the concubines who stay overnight often present the Emperor with sachets and perfumes at this time—"
Wan Anran looked at her: "Do we have any?"
Zisu was dumbfounded, having been holding back a lot of words. Her mistress could knit, but that didn't mean she could embroider purses. Even now, those handkerchiefs and undershirts were still made by the people in Chuxiu Palace.
Haitao reminisces about the past.
She looked at Zisu with pity, as if she were seeing her younger self in her. Haitao reached out and patted Zisu's shoulder: "Never mind, never mind."
"...How can we just let it go?"
"What else can we do if we don't count it?" Hai Tao glanced at her, then smiled and asked her mistress, "What will you have for breakfast today, mistress?"
Wan Anran leaned back in her chair, feeling utterly exhausted. She yawned lazily, "I don't know what the others will say when I pay my respects. I'll fill my stomach first... I'll have the kitchen make a bowl of noodles with gravy, remember to add some chili flakes, and also a plate of beef pies. I need to be full to have the energy to deal with them."
In the past, Consort Xuan would have shielded her, but now she has to step forward herself. Don't be fooled by the seemingly good atmosphere in the palace; in reality, anyone who was favored one day will surely be met with a barrage of glares the next. Of course, those like Consort Yi, who are not afraid at all, will directly refute her... and that day will certainly be quite a spectacle.
Wan Anran, who likes to be the badger but doesn't want to be the melon, is very worried, but since things have come to this point, she has no choice but to bite the bullet and prepare to do it.
Upon hearing Wan Anran's words, Hai Tao and the others also became serious. While they were helping her with her dressing and makeup, they went to prepare the meal—thankfully, Wan Anran stopped them. She was both amused and exasperated: "Why dress so extravagantly? You think I'm going to show off? It's just that lotus root color outfit."
The main thing is to eat your fill.
Wan Anran happily ate a large bowl of noodles, and the kitchen also brought over a cup of soy milk, which, along with the beef pie, tasted very comforting.
Having eaten and drunk her fill, Wan Anran rallied her spirits and headed towards Kunning Palace. Surprisingly, no one paid her any attention today. Even Consort Hui, who was usually quite cold towards her, came over and whispered excitedly, "Consort Qi, do you know?"
"Um?"
"How come you don't even know this?" Consort Hui looked disgusted, but clearly, she was preoccupied with talking about melons. She whispered excitedly, "Consort Tong is coming to pay her respects today!"
oops! ?
Wan Anran immediately transformed into a hawk, whispering, "Is the Imperial Concubine's illness cured?"
Consort Hui said meaningfully, "It has no choice but to get better."
Consort Yi also chimed in: "I heard that Lady Tongjia wants to send someone in."
Wan Anran raised her eyebrows.
She was quite surprised: "Are there any girls of marriageable age left in the Tongjia clan?"
Consort Yi rolled her eyes at her: "Even if there isn't one, you can choose from the side!"
What Consort Yi didn't mention was that Consort Qi and the utterly destitute Consort Wuya were originally backup plans for the Tongjia clan. However, Consort Qi unexpectedly benefited from the misfortune, while Consort Wuya fell into a quagmire, her future seemingly gone.
Anyway, no matter what.
It's a foregone conclusion that Consort Tong will make a comeback.
When all the concubines and noble ladies arrived, their expressions were all very strange. As they eagerly awaited, a thin figure appeared at the door.
Two palace maids helped Consort Tong into the room.
She wore an apricot-white palace dress, with only a touch of makeup. Her eyes had a slight bluish tinge, her face was pale, and her chin was pointed. Only her lips had a touch of red. When she stood quietly at the door, she always seemed as delicate and fragile as a bubble, as if she would disappear from the spot at any moment.
The initial excited discussion gradually subsided.
The concubines and noble ladies rose, curtsied, and shouted in unison, "These concubines greet Your Highness, the Noble Consort."
Consort Tong said softly, "Please rise, my sisters."
She moved gracefully into the hall, her delicate and slender body trembling slightly. If a man were present, he might feel a pang of tenderness, but since everyone present was a concubine, some suspected that Consort Tong was just putting on an act.
Wan Anran watched from the side, but felt that Consort Tong seemed to have changed. It wasn't just the physical blows, but more like the psychological torment she had suffered. Considering that the Twelfth Prince wasn't even Consort Tong's son, it did evoke a sense of sympathy.
The moment the Consort sat down, the announcement of the Empress's arrival came. Empress Niohuru, dressed in magnificent robes, stepped into the hall. After paying her respects, her first words were to Consort Tong: "Sister, you are in poor health. Just ask the palace for any medicine you need."
Consort Tong responded respectfully.
The Empress seemed quite indifferent to Consort Tong's return to power, and didn't seem to find fault at all, leaving Consort An and others feeling quite disappointed.
Most importantly, Emperor Kangxi also came.
Looking at Consort Tong, who resembled apricot blossoms in full bloom on a branch and seemed too delicate to withstand even a gentle breeze, his voice was exceptionally soft, as if he dared not exert any strength: "Consort Tong is not feeling well, why is she not resting properly in Chengqian Palace?"
Consort Tong lowered her head slightly.
Her voice was slightly choked: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your concern. I have been ill and have not been able to pay my respects to my sister. I have been feeling uneasy about this. Now that my condition has improved, I should come to pay my respects to my sister as soon as possible."
She paused for a moment and then looked up slightly.
Consort Tong, with a shy and timid air, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, gazed at Emperor Kangxi with affection in her dark eyes: "Your Majesty, indeed, the weather is dry and the air is crisp, so you must take care of your health to avoid overexertion and illness."
First, he explained that he was unwell, then he explained that he had come to pay his respects to the Empress despite his illness, and finally he used his illness to comfort the Emperor.
Consort Tong's actions were executed flawlessly.
Wan Anran watched with amazement, while the other concubines remained indifferent.
Emperor Kangxi nodded: "What the Imperial Concubine says is true."
He then instructed the palace servants: "The Imperial Concubine cannot be exposed to the wind. You should escort her back to the palace to recuperate. It will not be too late for her to pay her respects to the Empress after she has recovered."
The palace was completely silent.
Consort Tong looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with astonishment. Emperor Kangxi, however, seemed oblivious, simply squeezing her hand and saying, "I will visit you at Chengqian Palace later."
It all sounds like they're taking care of me.
Consort Tong felt a chill in her heart. Shouldn't the Emperor be holding her in his arms and gently comforting her?
Little did they know that Kangxi's thoughts were quite simple.
Since she's recuperating, she should make sure she recovers fully. What if she relapses while she's only partially recovered? Besides, the Imperial Concubine also has tinea versicolor, and with spring approaching and pollen season upon us, she should rest properly inside the palace.
Consort Tong looked shocked.
In her eyes, the emperor's reply was like a series of heavy slaps, making her dizzy and disoriented.
Even after leaving the palace, Consort Tong was still in a daze.
Her eyes were filled with shock and astonishment. When she returned to Chengqian Palace, she threw herself into Zhao Mama's arms and cried bitterly.
What's wrong with my cousin?
Why, why do I have to do this to myself?
Unaware of what had happened, Zhao Mama was at a loss, while Empress Niohuru, who had discerned the Emperor's thoughts in Kunning Palace, smiled but remained silent; she had no energy to remind the Consort.
After seeing off the Imperial Concubine, Kangxi got down to business: "I plan to go to the Western Garden in a couple of days for hunting and spring outing. The Empress should also make preparations to bring everyone along."
Spring outing! Hunting?
Not only did the Empress show joy, but apart from Wan Anran, who already knew about this, all the concubines also showed happiness on their faces.
Don't be fooled by the fact that Xiyuan is very close to the Forbidden City.
Just like Jingshan Park, which is separated by a palace wall, it is difficult for imperial concubines to go there, let alone enjoy a leisurely outing and kite flying. Everyone seemed to have forgotten about Consort Tong and started discussing the outing in a lively manner.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
